Two walk-in centres in Bury are set to close as commissioners seek to redirect the resources into a wider urgent care plan.

The move was confirmed at a board meeting of Bury Clinical Commissioning Group yesterday. There has been a high profile campaign to save the Bury and Prestwich walk-in centres, with more than 2,000 people signing a petition.

The CCG said the services would not be part of its plans due to fewer patients attending the centres over an 18 month period; the centres seeing a large number of non-Bury residents; and a need to use resources elsewhere in the future urgent care system.

It also said there are new services that replicate those in the walk-in centres, and evidence that a large number of patients could have been treated for their low level illnesses and conditions by other means including pharmacists.

The new urgent care model will consist of: the NHS 111 signposting and advice line; evening and weekend appointments with GPs and practice nurses; a bespoke wound care service in six locations; and new standards that are delivered by GPs to ensure that poorly under 12s are given an appointment the same day.

Bury has been part of a pilot scheme extending access to GP services during evenings and weekends.

The Bury centre will close at the end of March, while the Prestwich facility will close in September.